Most of my favorite clothes are old. I’ve had them for at least a couple of years, and they’ve become significant elements in some of my favorite memories. I love the memories that old clothes invoke.

Sweaters are no exception. Old sweaters are the best– and despite the fact that many of mine have holes, I still wear them. Because 1) I love how soft they are, and 2) I don’t care.

Furthermore, fall and winter are the perfect time to slip into our well-worn jeans and throw on our favorite knits, because nothing says “cozy” quite like that.

But this doesn’t mean our outfits have to be boring… or (exactly) the same everyday. I wear the same clothes all the time [again, because 1) I like to and 2) I don’t care], and yet there’s a lot of fun to be had dressing up those same clothes in different ways.

This fall, I’m focusing on getting the absolute greatest mileage out of all of my clothing. This means figuring out how to contextualize, accessorize, and maximize each piece so that I can wear them over and over.

Beyond living simply, one of my biggest passions for years has involved fighting for justice and creating opportunity for the poor around the world. This has meant jumping on board with Noonday Collection, a fashion-forward company that partners with artisans in vulnerable communities to create beautiful jewelry.

We’ve been fooled to believe that there is such a thing as a fashion rule. We’ve been told over and over again that there are certain indispensable “essentials” that must be a part of every wardrobe. We’ve been told that we’re not capable of dressing ourselves– that we need experts in the fashion industry to help us out.

But here’s the truth: our closets are our closets. They can be however large or small we choose. Our staples are our staples. They have to fit our lifestyle, climate, and needs.

For years, I was fooled by the fashion industry into believing that my image was made up of the clothes that I wore. I thought I needed to dress well in order to be seen and appreciated by others. I spent countless hours in front of the mirror– in dressing rooms, no less– trying to find my true self somewhere in a pile of textiles and price tags.